McLaren has announced that they will launch a new livery for the Monaco Grand Prix, with the team switching to the vintage Gulf Racing colours for the weekend ahead.

The team launched the new livery under the "bold is back" banner with McLaren broadcasting the event on Youtube to a live audience,  with the beginning of the video involving Lando Norris watching archive footage of previous Monaco Grand Prix before touching a Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren F1 longtail that raced in the GT1 category of the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1997 which saw the team's number 41 car come second overall.

McLaren will release a one-off new team kit for the weekend along with vintage driving overalls for both Daniel Ricciardo and Norris that will further incorporate the Gulf livery with the drivers wearing new helmets for that weekend's race.

However, the livery will be a one-off as the team plans to revert to its traditional papaya livery for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix held two weeks later in Baku.

Zak Brown explained to The Race that the new livery was a homage to the famous Gulf Racing colours, which became one of the most iconic liveries in Motor-racing history through its connections with the Ford GT40s and Porsche 917s raced at Le Mans in the late 1960s and early 1970s. 

“This will be McLaren’s homage to Gulf’s celebrated race car design, we’re enormous fans of brave and bold design, and the striking Gulf blue is among the most loved liveries in racing, a celebrated piece of culture which transcends the world of motorsport."

“Design has always been important to McLaren – you see this in everything we do from our return to papaya to our stunning headquarters, the McLaren Technology Centre. “We’re excited to exhibit this as a team and celebrate our proud association with Gulf in Monaco.”

Gulf's CEO Mike Jones talked of his excitement of this collaboration for Monte Carlo in what will be Formula 1's first visit to the principality in two years.

“Gulf and McLaren have a relationship that dates back to 1968 and is one of the most successful partnerships in motorsport, We are incredibly excited to pay tribute to this heritage with our classic livery design at the Monaco Grand Prix, the most spectacular and stylish event on the Formula 1 calendar." 

“To see the reaction of both Lando and Daniel as well as the whole McLaren team to this livery has been really special and we are thrilled to unveil it to motorsport fans around the world."

A look from all angles at our spectacular #MonacoGP livery. 🤩

What are your thoughts?#GulfXMcLaren pic.twitter.com/AJU3g2Ox4Q

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 16, 2021

One of the most historic partnerships in motorsport, brought to life for the most iconic race in Formula 1. #GulfXMcLaren #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/fiCo8YU39t

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) May 16, 2021